The game of keno is believed to have originated in China over 3,000 years ago. The original game was known as Baige Piao – which translates to white pigeon ticket in Cantonese, referring to the carrier pigeons that delivered game results to outlying villages. Baige Piao used the first 80 characters from a classic Chinese poem that is used to teach Chinese language characters to children.
The game was first introduced during the reign of Cheung Leung to generate income and finance his army to protect his throne and city. Legend has it that revenue from the game contributed to the building of the Great Wall.
In the 19th century, Chinese immigrants brought the game to the West when they travelled to help build the First Transcontinental Railroad and to work in mines during the gold rush era. Consequently, Keno had gained momentum in Houston, Texas, as a gambling game, under its current name – Keno. The game was also taken to France where it was modernised.
Keno Betting Mechanics
The main objective of keno players is to select up to ten (10) or fifteen (15) numbers out of the eighty (80) numbers on the keno ticket, depending on the version of keno they are playing. Then, decide upon the wager size and the number of games they want to bet on.
During the draw, twenty (20) numbers are randomly picked by the keno numbers machine or random number generator (RNG). The goal is for keno players to match as many of their numbers as possible to the ones drawn. Payouts will be based on a keno pay table.
Keno Bet Types and Payouts
Classic keno games generally have four types of bets: straight, split, way, and combination.
Straight Bet
Straight bets are the most common wager type among keno players, as they only need to make a selection and bet on it. They get paid based on how many of their chosen digits are drawn. Generally, the more number matches, the more their payout is.
Split Bet
This type of keno bet enables players to wager on two sets of numbers in a single round. A split bet is made by marking the different sets of numbers the player wants to wager on, then drawing a line between the two groups of digits.
In a split bet, players must remember that the two sets of numbers cannot share any of the digits chosen.
Way Bet
Way bets work almost similarly to split bets. These require players to wager on several sets of numbers on the same keno ticket. To place a way bet, players must select their preferred numbers and draw circles around each group.
Consequently, since keno players will be betting on more groups, they have to bear in mind that they have to wager more for each round. Although this may seem complicated and expensive, a way bet has good odds and payouts.
Combination Bet
This type of bet requires keno players to combine different bets on one ticket. Players can place straight, split, and way bets altogether on one keno ticket to boost their odds of winning.
Benefits of Playing Online Keno
Players have several benefits from playing keno online, including:
Convenience
Playing keno through an online casino can make the whole experience more convenient and exciting as players can engage in keno betting with just a click on their devices. In addition, keno players can play keno games anytime as online casinos are accessible 24/7, and there is no waiting time for machines to be available.
Manageable Risk and Reward
Keno is also one of the games with manageable risk and reward. Players can bet on multiple numbers and increase their chances of winning with a lower buy-in. If they are lucky enough to have their numbers drawn among the 20 winning numbers, they can win big. Conversely, if their numbers are not drawn, they do not lose a lot of money either.
Wide Variety of Options
Apart from the classic keno games offered in land-based casinos, players can also play other variations of keno online.
- Live Dealer Keno
Live keno is generally played at land-based and online casinos, and generally follows the same mechanics of Bingo and Lotto. Players have to make their number selections on a keno card to place their wagers.
- Video Keno
Video keno is the keno variation where the gameplay is almost similar to that of a slot machine. This means that the winning numbers are from a random number generator (RNG) instead of an actual lottery machine.
- Mobile Keno
This type of keno game is available mostly on electronic devices such as phones and tablets. Keno players can access mobile keno games on online casinos with mobile apps for iOS and Android, or websites accessible on mobile browsers.
- RNG Keno
RNG keno works similarly to video keno, where winning numbers are drawn by RNG instead of lottery machines. However, the unique aspect of RNG keno is that its rules and bets differ from other keno variations.
Keno Betting Strategies
While keno is not a game where specific strategies can impact the odds of winning, there are certain approaches that players can practice to improve their chances of winning. Here are some of them:
Know the Keno Odds Keno is among the games that do not offer the best odds and is not always in favour of the players. Still, keno players need to be aware of the odds, as this will enable them to determine how they would bet on keno and how they make their selections.
| Number of Hits | Odds |
| 0 | 1 in 843.380 (0.12%) |
| 1 | 1 in 86.446 (1.16%) |
| 2 | 1 in 20.115 (4.97%) |
| 3 | 1 in 8.009 (12.49%) |
| 4 | 1 in 4.877 (20.50%) |
| 5 | 1 in 4.287 (23.33%) |
| 6 | 1 in 5.258 (19.02%) |
| 7 | 1 in 8.826 (11.33%) |
| 8 | 1 in 20.055 (4.99%) |
| 9 | 1 in 61.420 (1.63%) |
| 10 | 1 in 253.801 (0.39%) |
| 11 | 1 in 1,423.822 (0.07%) |
| 12 | 1 in 10,968.701 (0.019%) |
| 13 | 1 in 118,084.920 (0.0008%) |
| 14 | 1 in 1,821,881.628 (0.00005%) |
| 15 | 1 in 41,751,453.986 (0.0000024%) |
| 16 | 1 in 1,496,372,110.872 (0.00000007%) |
| 17 | 1 in 90,624,035,964.712 |
| 18 | 1 in 10,512,388,171,906.553 |
| 19 | 1 in 2,946,096,785,176,811.500 |
| 20 | 1 in 3,535,316,142,212,173,800.000 |
Avoid Changing Numbers Too Often
Keno remains a game of chance and uses random number generators to draw numbers on a randomised principle. So, there are no actual patterns in how the numbers are drawn. In general, players do not have an inherent benefit in changing their numbers for each game they play.
Play Responsibly
Keno players must set a strict balance in their gambling activities and finances. It can be easy to get too absorbed in the game, focusing on the idea of winning. However, this leads to players often forgetting to track how much money and time they spend on their keno betting activities.
Not being able to track gambling expenses can result in financial consequences. Conversely, when players set a budget and schedule for each activity, they can have a more disciplined and responsible gambling journey.
How to Place Keno Bets?
In this modern era, players have more ways to gain access to lotto and casino games. While keno games have previously only been available at land-based casinos and lotto outlets, they are now in abundance at online gambling platforms like 88ProAsia.
88ProAsia is the preferred website for online gambling in Singapore and Malaysia. It offers a broad range of casino games, sports betting markets, and jackpot lottery games with odds that can match Singapore Pools live betting odd lines. Register now at www.88proasia.com and start partaking in keno betting activities.
